The state of Chiapas is home to multiple species of shrews (11 species), endemisms (three species from Mexico) and micro-endemisms (5 species from Chiapas). These species inhabit diverse physiographic regions and different types of habitats across the state. However, several are known by only very few specimens, mostly collected several years ago, making the knowledge about their natural history extremely scarce. This paper describes the efforts made by the authors along 16 years in search of shrews of Chiapas. Records were obtained from fieldwork, as well as by historical records from scientific collections and public databases. We estimated the relative abundances per species, identifying in each case the area of distribution and association with different types of vegetation and land use, current threats, and future research scenario for conservation purposes. The total trapping effort was 12,340 trap-nights across 13 sampling sites, with a total capture success of 0.18 %. In nine sampling sites, we succeeded in capturing 22 specimens of six species of shrews: Cryptotis griseoventris, C. lacandonensis, C. merriami, C. mexicanus, C. pueblensis, and Sorex cristobalensis. C. griseoventris had the highest relative abundance (31.81 %) and capture success (0.056), while C. lacandonensis showed the lowest relative abundance (4.54 %) and capture success (0.008). We present noteworthy records of shrews: 1) for being barely represented in scientific collections, as in C. griseoventris, and 2) for expanding the previously documented distribution area, as in C. lacandonensis and C. merriami. All of the species currently face serious conservation issues resulting from the loss of habitat. In particular, microendemic species such as S. sclateri and S. stizodon are seriously threatened. The specimens and records reported herein should foster further detailed research on the taxonomy, ecology, and biogeography to advance the knowledge of shrews inhabiting the southern border of Mexico.El estado de Chiapas es rico en número de especies de musarañas (11 especies), endemismos (tres especies de México) y micro-endemismos (5 especies de Chiapas). Las especies habitan diversas regiones fisiográficas del estado y diferentes tipos de hábitat. Sin embargo, varias son conocidas por muy pocos ejemplares, la mayoría colectados desde hace varios años, por lo que el conocimiento sobre su historia natural es extremadamente escaso. Se dan a conocer los esfuerzos realizados por los autores a lo largo de 16 años en la búsqueda de las especies de musarañas de Chiapas. Se obtuvieron registros de muestreos de campo, así como registros históricos obtenidos de colecciones científicas y bases de datos públicas. Se estimaron las abundancias relativas por especie, identificaron su área de distribución y asociación a diferentes tipos de vegetación y uso de suelo, las amenazas que enfrentan y el panorama de investigaciones futuras para su conservación. El esfuerzo total de captura fue de 12,340 trampas/noche repartidos en 13 sitios de colecta, con un éx...
Changes in vegetative cover and land use in the southern part of the Isthmus of Tehuantepec in Oaxaca, Mexico, were identified by analysing satellite images from 2001 and 2014. Fluctuations in population density of mammal species during 2001–2016 in response to these changes were analysed. During 2001–2014 the types of land use that increased in area (per year) were prescribed burning (uncontrolled burning caused by humans) by 105.11 ha, seasonal agricultural plots by 58.14 ha, areas without vegetation by 24.54 ha, and human settlements by 4.13 ha. In the same period, savannahs decreased by 103.94 ha, tropical dry forest by 39.5 ha, secondary forests by 14.46 ha, and human-induced grassland by 0.13 ha per year. The loss of these habitats resulted in low population densities of mammals, including the eastern cottontail Sylvilagus floridanus and the Tehuantepec jackrabbit Lepus flavigularis, which is categorized as Endangered on the IUCN Red List. We recommend establishing a communal ecological reserve in the study area to implement appropriate management strategies for grassland communities and develop a programme of semi-captive breeding to conserve L. flavigularis.
We rediscovered a population of Nelson’s spiny pocket mouse (Heteromys nelsoni; Merriam, 1902) in the type locality of Pinabeto in the Mexican state of Chiapas, 121 years after it was last collected. We describe five topotype specimens according to their morphology and external measurements, and we confirm its identity at the species level in the Basic Local Alignment Search Tool (BLAST) of GenBank. As the population of H. nelsoni in Pinabeto is isolated, it is likely to be susceptible to extinction. There is a need to carry out additional scientific studies of this microendemic species in order to obtain more information regarding its biology, ecology and evolutionary history, and to be able to influence environmental policy to protect and conserve this species, as well as the region’s cloud forests.
We explain through potential distributions and changes in altitudinal variation, the possible impacts of climate change in an endangered micro-endemic rodent of Mexico with narrow altitudinal range, Heteromys nelsoni and a rodent with a wide distributional and altitudinal range, Heteromys goldmani. We obtained historical and current records of both Heteromys species. Potential distribution models were generated using Maxent, including altitudes for each species and bioclimatic layers. We determined the Extent of Occurrence and Area of Occupancy for H. nelsoni according to the criteria of the IUCN in order to generate information about its risk status. The altitude is not a variable that determines a shift in the distribution caused by climate change. In contrast, the temperature and precipitation are important for the potential distribution of both Heteromys species. The future changes in climatic conditions will reduce the area of suitable habitat for H. nelsoni and will favor the presence of H. goldmani. The distribution surface is not greater than 33.44 km2 for H. nelsoni. Therefore, is urgent to re-evaluate their conservation status by the IUCN, mainly in its B criterion, and to take specific actions for their conservation. We suggest the creation of a terrestrial protected area.
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